Tania was born in Iran to Russian parents. When she was 12 years old, her family came to America where Lemani began her career with a classical ballet dance troupe, but when she traveled to Las Vegas in search of more work, she was offered a job as a belly dancer, not a ballet dancer. She ultimately got her own show in Vegas, as well as offers to dance on television and film. She also began receiving more serious acting roles after a member of her show's audience offered her a role in the pilot for Alexander the Great, starring William Shatner in the title role (although the pilot failed to be picked up as a series). Regardless, Lemani retired from acting in 1969.

On television, she has appeared on The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (with Arlene Martel), I Dream of Jeannie, Get Smart (with Karen Steele), McHale's Navy (including an episode with David Opatoshu), It Takes a Thief (with Nancy Kovack and her "Wolf in the Fold" co-star Charles Dierkop), and The Flying Nun (with Michael Pataki and Sandra Smith), among others. In addition, she has performed in dozens of stage productions.

Tania Lemani speaks English, Russian and Persian fluently. She also knows some Spanish, Armenian, Ukrainian & Italian. She has also produced her own belly dancing video, "Bellysize with Tanya."